There is Power in Prayer

11-17-14

So miracle of the week... 

Last night we stopped by an investigator's house because she didn't come to church, so we wanted to see what had happened. Her husband answered the door and talked for us a little bit.  That was miracle #1 because if he's home he usually just stays in his room studying or something, but most times he's not home when we visit.  While we were talking at the door he said that he has faith, but he just feels like something was missing. What a perfect opening for us (that was miracle #2)! So we testified that he could find that peace that he was missing through the church of Jesus Christ because we have the fullness of the gospel. When we said that he opened the door and told us to come in for a little bit (MIRACLE #3!)! We were kind of shocked, but obviously stoked. We were able to have a REALLY GOOD lesson with him, and answer a lot of his questions and doubts.  We had a member with us and she was AWESOME.  Telling about her experiences and her testifying really brought the Spirit.  By the end of the lesson he said that he wanted to see if what we had to say was what he was looking for/ could help him, and he set up a time to meet with us later this week.  It was SO GREAT. 

After that lesson we had two people that we were thinking about visiting, but it was getting late and we didn't know which one we should go to.  We prayed to know where we should go and both felt like we should go visit a family nearby.  When we got there the parents weren't there (and they're who we usually talk to) but the teenage son opened the door.  We ended talking to him about the power of prayer right on the doorstep.  He had never prayed before but we taught him how and told him about how great it is.  We ended up saying a prayer with him right there and he agreed to pray before he went to bed that night.  It was super good and I know that God had directed us to exactly where we needed to be at that time. 

That's about all I have time for this week, but I have a testimony of the presence of God in our lives.  He guides and directs us to where we need to be and what we should do in our lives.  All we need to do is ask Him. Prayer is a powerful thing, and I think too often we take it for granted.  The prayers that we say with a sincere heart and real intent are not the prayers that we're most likely to get an answer to, but they're the prayers that we're more likely to RECOGNIZE the answer to. Take advantage of the ability we have to pray to our Heavenly Father! He's there for us and he hears and answers our prayers.  I know it.

I love you all! Have a great week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne 

Double the Work to Do!

11-10-14

This week and last have been great! We got transfer calls 2 Saturdays ago.  We were totally expecting that Hna.Juarez would leave Lake Elsinore and I would stay, because that's usually what happens when training is over.  But we found out that we would be staying together! Which is crazy! We didn't really understand it, but then we found out our ward, which covers the entire stake's boundaries, was only going to have 2 companionships of missionaries, instead of 3, like it's previously had.  So Hna.Juarez and I took over a ton of the Elders' area, so we have a lot more work to do! It's awesome! And it turned out to be a really good thing that we stayed together, because it's almost like we got doubled-in to the Elders' area, plus we have our own area to cover.  But we have some really great investigators and a lot of work to do, which I love.  So things are going well! 

And what's really cool is that even though Hna.Juarez was my trainer, I don't feel like I'm being trained anymore (my training ended November 2). I mean, I'm definitely still learning a lot from her, but it's different.  And she feels the same.  She doesn't feel like she's training me anymore.  It's almost like the "mantle" or training has been lifted.  It's really cool. 

Our district leader has encouraged us to visit every one of the members in our area this transfer.  We have most the members of the ward in our area so that's a lot of people to visit.  But I'm really enjoying it! I'm loving getting to know the members better, and we've visited several in-active families that I had never met before.  They were really cool.  We just need to figure out how we can help them come back. But I'm glad he encouraged us to get to know the members.  I love it, and members are definitely the key to this work. 

I love you! I hope you have an awesome week! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Horne 

Halloween - Missionary Style!

11-3-14

Our Halloween activity was actually super fun.  Normally we're not supposed to have activities with the elders, but on Halloween we were allowed to.  So we all got together at the stake center at 6:00 and watched "The Best 2 Years".  It was so fun!! Watching that movie was super fun. I had been wanting to watch it but I figured I'd have to wait until after my mission to do it.  Surprise! Got to watch it before that! It was super good.  We pulled all the couches from the foyers into the gym so it was comfy.  And we had lots of candy and some yummy cookies there too. Then the elders played soccer afterwards and we watched/ hung out in the hallway (because we can't play with them).  But it was super fun! 

So I've been out in the field for 12 weeks now and on my mission for 4 months as of yesterday! But the first 12 weeks of the field are "training" so I've officially finished training! So that's exciting.  We got transfer calls on Saturday night (where you find out who your new companion is and where you'll be serving).  USUALLY your trainer leaves you after the 12 weeks.  But we found out that Hna.Juarez and I will be staying together.  We were really shocked.  That's super uncommon. It's pretty uncommon for any companionship to stay together more than 2 transfers (3 months) but after this coming one, Hna.Juarez and I will have been together for 3 transfers (4 and a half months).  So this will be interesting! We just both kind of feel like we don't know what to do as far as work goes in this area, so we're hoping to start fresh and try out different things.  We'll see how it goes. We kind of had to adjust to the idea that we'd be staying together, in the same place for another transfer, but we pretty much have now, so it's all good!

We try to speak spanish to each other, but it's hard.  We both just default to english (even though she's half guatemalen), and we forget to try.  But that's something that we're working on. 

But yesterday was super cool. A sister missionary that served in this area a year ago and went home last transfer came back to visit for the weekend.  I had met her once before and it was fun having her here to get to know her a little better.  She came out with us last night and it was super fun.  We went to see and part member family who she had baptized their son, and worked hard on their niece.  It was SO COOL seeing them all together again.  It was such a sweet reunion.  The WHOLE FAMILY (which is two families living in one house) was so excited to see her.  It was like a hero's welcome.  They really love her.  And she really loves them.  It was awesome. I need to work on getting to know the members better like that! 

Anyways, things are good here!  And I love being a missionary!

Te quiero mucho,
Hermana Horne

Pumpkins and Palm Trees

                                                                 The Petting Zoo...

Ward Halloween Party...

McKayla & Clarissa

10-27-14

Sooo our mission president, President Mullen, is super fit.  We just finished doing a Crossfit activity that he lead and he kicked butt.  Like I'm going to be so sore tomorrow/ I'm baffled that he's probably in better shape than half of us missionaries. haha

Anyways, this week has been super fun! 

I'm sending tons of pictures, which will hopefully makes up for not writing very much. 

But last Monday we went to a little dairy in Wildomar and had fun petting the animals there and enjoying the beautiful weather. P-days are so nice:) 

We also had our ward Halloween Party on Saturday night.  It was so fun seeing everyone dressed up. And Hermana Juarez and I were asked to be the costume judges, so I loved that. 

But part of the reason why this week was so fun is because we worked REALLY hard.  I always feel better about the weeks and days when I know I've done my very best. That's how I want to feel at the end of my mission.  I want to know that I worked my hardest to further this work. So that's what I'll do! 

So Grandma and Grandpa Horne got their mission call to the West Indies!! I am SO excited for them! The West Indies seems like it would be such a cool mission! They're such good examples of serving selflessly. I'm so excited to hear about all their experiences out there.  

Missions are awesome.  I feel so blessed to be a part of the hastening of the Lord's work. 

I've definitely recognized the His hand in the things we do.  Especially, in regards to my Spanish.  I've been praying more fervently for the ability to be able to communicate with the people we teach and I've definitely noticed a difference.  My Spanish has definitely gotten better, and I know it's because of how sincerely I've been praying for it.

Anyways, sending all my love! Enjoy Halloween for me:) 

Con mucho amor, 

Hermana Horne